out upon him and partickler his chest. Being requested to explain himself, he stated that there was some of ’em wot you couldn’t kiver with a sixpence. Pressed to fall back upon a nominative case, he opined that they wos about as red as ever red could be. “But as long as they strikes out’ards, sir,” continued Sloppy, “they ain’t so much. It’s their striking in’ards that’s to be kep off.”
John Rokesmith hoped the child had had medical attendance? Oh yes, said Sloppy, he had been took to the doctor’s shop once. And what did the doctor call it? Rokesmith asked him. After some perplexed reflection, Sloppy answered, brightening, “He called it something as wos wery long for spots.” Rokesmith suggested measles. “No,” said Sloppy with confidence, “ever so much longer than them , sir!” ( Mr. Sloppy was elevated by this fact, and seemed to consider that it reflected credit on the poor little patient.)
“ Mrs. Boffin will be sorry to hear this,” said Rokesmith.
“ Mrs. Higden said so, sir, when she kep it from her, hoping as Our Johnny would work round.”
“But I hope he will?” said Rokesmith, with a quick turn upon the messenger.
“I hope so,” answered Sloppy. “It all depends on their striking in’ards.” He then went on to say that whether Johnny had “took ’em” from the Minders, or whether the Minders had “took ’em” from Johnny, the Minders had been sent home and had “got ’em.” Furthermore, that Mrs. Higden’s days and nights being devoted to Our Johnny, who was never out of her lap, the whole of the mangling arrangements had devolved upon himself, and he had had “rayther a tight time.” The ungainly piece of honesty beamed and blushed as he said it, quite enraptured with the remembrance of having been serviceable.